Guan Yu (162-219) is one of the most well-known figures in ancient Chinese history. He is a major character in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a semi-historical novel which outlines and romanticizes the events of the Three Kingdoms period between 220 and 280 CE. Guan Yu was a powerful warrior and general of his time, meeting and fighting alongside his long-time leader and friend Liu Bei during the Yellow Turban Uprising of 184-204 CE.

During an attack from rival ruler Cao Cao, Guan Yu was captured alongside members of Liu Bei's family. Following the attack, Yu believed that his friend was dead. Therefore, Yu joined forces with Cao Cao and was made a General. Guan Yu displayed his military might to Cao Cao by personally killing a rival regional leader and sending his head to Cao Cao as proof. However immediately afterwards upon hearing that Liu Bei was alive, Guan Yu left Cao Cao's service to return to his friend leaving behind a farewell letter. Yu lost his life in service to Liu Bei in 219 CE, when he was captured in an ambush and executed by the forces of Eastern Wu.

Guan Yu is worshiped as a god by many Chinese people, particularly within Southern China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Business owners place shrines to him within their stores to attract wealth. His worship as a god extends into Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. His great deeds as outlined in The Romance of the Three Kingdoms has embroidered his legacy in the fabric of history, marking him as one of the most well known characters in the Three Kingdoms period.

關羽（西元162－219年）是中國古代歷史上最有名的人物之一。他是《三國演義》中的主要人物，這部半歷史小說概述了西元220－280年間三國時期的事件並將其浪漫化。關羽是一位強大的戰士和將軍，在西元184－204年黃巾起義期間，他與他長期的領袖和朋友，劉備，一起並肩作戰。 

在敵軍曹操的一次進攻中，關羽和劉備的家人不幸一起被抓獲。在那次襲擊後，關羽以為他的朋友已經死了。因此，關羽和曹操聯手，而關羽則成為了曹軍中的將軍。為了向曹操展示他的軍事實力，關羽親自殺死了一位敵對的地區領導人，並把他的頭送到曹操處以作為證據。然而，得知劉備還活著後，關羽在留下一封告別信予曹操後便立即離開，回到朋友身邊。關羽於西元219年為劉備服務時喪生，當時他在一次伏擊中被東吳部隊抓獲並處決。 

關羽被許多中國人供奉為神明，特別是在華南地區、香港和臺灣。很多商人都會在商店裏安放一尊關羽像供奉他，以此吸引財富。他被作為神而崇拜的現象更延伸到道教、佛教和儒教。在《三國演義》中所概述有關關羽的偉大事蹟，使他成為三國時期中最著名的人物之一。